We are a third of the way through summer.
We spent solstice in Idaho. It passed with barely any notice. Don’t think they know what is important out there. We didn’t get back until we were already losing over a minute of daylight, but the weather was good and it felt like summer.
We got an extra week of real summer by taking the trip when we did. Missed the build up here and returned in time for the real thing.
The lupines are crazy this year, as were the dandelions. Secretly, I like to see dandelions. The bees love them and I like the color. I know they aren’t too welcome in many yards. Hubby hunts them with a passion and our lawn is fairly clear of their yellow heads in spite of the neighborhood proliferation. And now it’s their fuzzy tops that are filling the air.
Unfortunately, I have also seen several patches of yellow hawkweed around town. It is an invasive species and can quickly overtake a park area or any open space, crowding out even dandelions. It has been declared a noxious weed in most of the northwestern states that depend on grazing land.
It was brought to the U.S. years ago as a medicinal, and does have some value there, or did in the old days. Now, it is a real problem because it spreads so easily, as does its brother orange hawkweed.
But the flowering trees and bushes are tremendous. Lilacs all over the place and the Sitka roses are really great this summer. I guess I am so enthused about the flowers because last year the excessive rain pretty well squelched most of the summer color. My peonies haven’t bloomed yet, but I’ve heard some others have. It’s getting to be that time. And I heard a rumor that if you look far enough you’ll see the fireweed starting up the stalk.
As you may have guessed, I really like summer. Our trip to Idaho last month was just in time for their bursts of color, and it wasn’t as hot as it has become in these past few weeks. We arrived just in time for the expansive yellow of the canola fields, and the trees and bushes as well as flower gardens were in bloom in all colors.
Of course, both here and in the northwest, a beautiful summer spawns forest fires. Lightning and people caused. And as much as I cuss the rain, it’s a necessary evil to keep from burning up the state any more than it does every year.
You may have suspected by now that I am writing about the weather to keep from mentioning POLITICS. It has been so crazy lately that I just want to hide, but feel the need to keep up on the news just to try to be a little educated when the time comes to vote.
It for sure will drive you round the bend trying to keep up with all the up and downs. I am a registered Undeclared, as I may have mentioned before. My local and state ballots are often marked all over the place. I vote for whoever is singing my song, although I am not a one-issue voter.
I listen to the hype, and try to keep up with what is said each time, so if there is a big swing I can question it and do some research to try and follow the train of thought and vote accordingly. It would be a lot easier to be a D or an R and simply follow that leader but that doesn’t work for me because I am pretty scatter-brained.
And then there is the national election. The diversions to keep from discussing the true issues have just about reached the limit with the July 13 incident. By November we will be so befuddled I won’t be surprised if we elect “none of the above.”
I don’t participate in early voting, because in the past I have changed my mind within a few days of the actual vote. I’d be really mad at myself to vote one way a month ahead of time and come to the day with a changed perspective.
So I’d rather think summer and enjoy the next two-thirds of what is turning out to be a pretty nice season. Even the dipnetters aren’t too rambunctious.
And a little rain is good!
Our primary election is Aug. 20. Learn the candidates and vote. Borough elections will be in October, another important one. And the big one in November. If you don’t vote you can’t complain!
But until then. Let’s enjoy this great summer. The fireweed will be to the top in no time.
